Photoreproduction camera



June 23, 1953 L. LlNzELL PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1950 By v ttrneys June 23, 1953 I INZELL PHoToREPRoDUcTIoN CAMERA 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 22, 1950 Inventor ef/fe /'nze/ my@ June 23, 1953 L. LlNzELL 2,643,187

PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA v Filed Nov. 22, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invenior es/ie l'nze// A ttorne'ys June Filed Nov. 22, 1950 L. LINZELL.

PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 OL e Invenior L. LINZELL PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA June 23, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 22. 1950 Inventor eTv//e /'/;ze// By l June 23, 1953 I L LlNzELL PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 22, 195o June 23, 1953 L. LlNzELL PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA 10 Sheets--SheerI 8 Filed Nov. 22, -1950 Inventor lef/ie inzel/ 8%@ w e fr, m w A June 23, 1953 L. I lNzELL PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 22, 1950 June 23, 1953 l.. I INZELL 2,643,187

PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA I Filed Nov. 22, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Inventor ef/ie l Mze/l Patented June 23, 1953 PHOTOREPRODUCTION CAMERA Leslie Linzell, Watford, England, assgnor to Pictorial Machinery Limited, London, England, a

British company Application November 22, 1950, Serial N o. 196,970 In Great Britain November 15, 1949 4 Claims.

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to photographic cameras of the type used for photo-reproduction and utilising a cross-line or other photo-mechanical screen for splitting up the image into a dot pattern.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby screens of diferent rulings can be removed and replaced with facility and without handling. The invention is especially applicable to large size photo-reproduction cameras.

According to one feature of the present invention there is provided, a photo-reproduction camera of the type described.

In the preferred construction, the assembly of screen carriers is mounted for shifting movement as a unit in a direction normal to the plane of the screens to bring the carrier tracks selectively in alignment with the carrier tracks at the back of the camera.

There may be incorporated a pre-selector latch device for stopping and locking the screen carrier unit at a position where the carrier track of the selected screen is in alignment with the carrier track at the back of the camera.

A transfer magazine may be used for moving the selected screen along the tracks between the magazine and the operative position at the back of the camera, the transverse mechanism including a transverse endless chain, means such as" a handle for driving the endless cha-in, and a pick-up device carried by and movable with the chain adapted to be detachably connected to the selected screen in the magazine, whereby driving of the chain causes the selected screen to be drawn by the chain along the aligned tracks between the operative and inoperative positions.

The screen carriers preferably each incorporates a horizontal transverse tra-ck rail from which the screen is suspended and on which the associated screen runs for transverse travelling movement.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the back of the camera and of the screen magazine;

lFigure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation on the line' 3-3 of Figure l at the junction of the framings for Vthe camera back and the screen magazine;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation on an enlarged of a preselector device for controlling shifting movement of the screens in the magazine;

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively sectional views on the lines 6 6 and 1 1 of Figure 5;

Figures 8 and 9 are respectively side and end views in elevation, also on an enlarged scale, of a pick-up device in a transfer mechanism for rolling the screens individually between the magazine and the camera;

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 8 showing the pick-up device in a position at the side of the magazine for receiving a peg at a bottom corner of a screen holder;

Figure 1l is a sectional view on an enlarged scale through the magazine on the line l l-l I of Figure 1;

Figures 12 and 13 are sectional views through the upper and lower portions of a screen holder on respectively the lines |2-|2 and |3-l3 of Figure 4;

' Figure 14 is a fragmentary View in elevation of the bottom of a screen holder in position at the back of the camera;

Figure 15 is a sectional plan View on the line i5-I5 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a View similar to the left hand portion of Figure 15 showing the parts in a position for clamping the screen holder;

Figure 17 is a sectional View in elevation on an enlarged scale on the line I'l-II of Figure 2;

Figure 18 is a front elevation of another form of screen holder adapted detachably to receive a round screen; and

Figure 19 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line |9-I9 of Figure 18.

Referring rst to Figures 1 to 3, at the back of the camera is a framing I0, where the sensitized plate and the screen are positioned one in front of the other during reproduction work.. At one side of the camera back is tted a magazine l! for storing three holders l2 each detachabl; tted with a screen la (see Figures 4. 12 and 13). The holders and screens are positioned vertically one behind the other in planes parallel with each other and with the sensitized plate.

Screen holders A screen holder is shown in detail in Figures 4, 12 and 13. It is provided with a rigid rectangular frame. The screen I3 is supported at the back of the frame between an upper crossbar `Ill and a lower cross bar I5. These two cross-bars are both capable of up-and-down adjustment so as to render the holder capable of taking screens of different size.

The lower cross-bar I5 is carried at each end on a stud I5 (Figure 13) tted to a slide I1 that runs in a vertical slot I8 within a side member of the holder frame. Th stud projects through a metal guard I9 fixed over the front of the slot I8. The guard itself is formed with a vertical slot 28 which is aligned with the frame slot I8. The stud IS also loosely carries a stop element 2| having a rib 22 at its upper end which is adapted selectively to be engaged in slots 23 formed in the two vertical side edges oi the slots i8, 28. On the free end of the stud is screwed a nut 24.

When the nut 24 is partially-- nneerewed, the stop 2l is free to be tilted by reason of its loose tting. A chamfered lowerl portion 25 is provided on the lower end of the stopt, to enahle thev rib 22 to be disengaged from the slots 23. With the ribs of the twostops thus disengaged, the ends of the cross-bar can be vertically adjusted. The crees-bar is locked in its adjusted position by engaging the ribs on the stops Within selected Sets of Slots, whereupon the nuts 24 are. ,screwed tight n the Studs I6- The Cross-bar is then positively locked to the holder frame, ,SO as safely to support the weight of the screen.

The upper cross-bar I 4 is tted at each end (Figure l2) on a stud 38 that is slidable in a vertical slot 3l within a side member of the screen frame. Fixed over the slot is a metal guard 32 having a vertical slot 33 aligned with the slot 3l. The marginal edges at the sides of the slot 33 are slidably engaged by channels at the sides of two blocks 34, 35 secured together by screws 38. The stud 30 is fitted to a bridge member 31 extending across the slot 3 I. On the back end of the stud is a nut 38,. When the two nuts are screwed tight on their studs, the bridge members 31 securely `clamp the ends of the crossbar I4 to the screen holder.

Lugs 39 (Figure 4.) on the upper and lower cross bars I4, Al .held the screen against the holder frame.

It will be seen that the screen is also adjustable laterally of the holder by sliding it to One side 0r other between the cross-bars I4, I5.

Screen carrier For supporting a screen 'holder I2 in position either within the magazine or at the back of the camera, and also for transferring the screen holder from one position to the other, each screen holder is provided atv its upper corners with brackets 48, each fitted with two iianged rollers 4I When the screen holder with its screen is positioned within the magazine, the rollers rest upon a horizontal cross rail 42 iltted to a plate 43 (Figure 11) carried by a bracket 44 at its upper end. The rail, plate and bracket together form a carrier unit for supporting the suspended holder and its screen.

There is one screen carrier for each screen holder, and as shown in Figures 2 and 11, the three screen carriers are suspended one behind the other from the upper portion ofthe magazine; rl"he three screen carrier units are connected together at their corners by end cross plates 45 (Figures l and 4l) and also by a central cross plate 45 (Figure 1),. On the centre plate 48 is mounted a bearing block 41 which is slidably guided on a horizontal support rod 48 that extends from front to back of the magazine.

, On each of the two end plates 45 is mounted a pair of bearers 49 (Figure 4) tted on shafts 58 which are parallel with the rod` 48 and are plates 12, 13'.

4 rotatable in front and back bearings 5I, 52 (omitted in Figure 1). The back portion of each shaft is in screw-threaded engagement with the back bearer 48. At their iront ends the screw Y shafts are fitted with chain sprockets 25|.

The lower horizontal edges of the suspended screen holders are engaged in channel guides 52 (Figure 4) at the upper ends of register bars 53. The lower ends of the register bars are supported on cross plates 54, each tted with a pair of bearers 55 mounted for sliding movement on a shaft 58 carried by front and back bearings 58, 5K1. Ihe backend of each shaft is in screwthreaded engagement with the back bearer 55. On the front `end of each shaft is a chain sprocket 59.

llhe sprockets 25I, 59 on the four parallel screw-shafts 58, 38 at the four corners of the screen holders are coupled together by an endless driving chain 58.

Screen shifter mechanism One, 0f the two lower screw shafts 58 has a rear extension 6I (Figure 11,) tted with a handle 62. The handle has a hollow boss 83 within which is tted a coil compression spring 64 bearing at its ends against a collar 55 and the inner end of the recess in the boss. Through the collar extends a pin 65 adapted to engage in slots (il of the boss when the handle is pushed inwardly, as shown by the arrow in Figure 1l. Normally the pin and slots are held disengaged by the spring. The arrangement therefore affords a clutch.

By pushing in and then turning the handle 52, the complete assembly of screen carriers and screen supports is shifted bodily backwards or forwards in a direction normal to the plane oiv each screen. The object of so shifting the assembly is to bring a selected screen edge opposite a vertical slot i8 (Figure 3) in the camera body for transfer of that screen` from the magazine into a face-to-face position with the sensitized plate in the camera. I

A pre-selector latch device is provided in the,

base oi the magazine for automatically stopping and locking the screen carrier assembly when it reaches the correct position for transfer of the selected screen.. ',Ihe pre-selector device is illustrated in detail in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

'I his device is provided with a base 'il having two end plates l2, 'I3 and a side plate 14. At the open side of the base is fitted a cam-shaft I5 journalled in the end plates and having an eX- tension 18 fitted with a handle 'Il and a pointer i8 (see also Figures l and 2) The pointer moves over an arcuate scale (not shown) at the front of the magazine. rI'hel scale is marked 1-2-3 corresponding to the numbers of the three screens in the magazine. The cam-shaft carries three peripheral cams l() each formed with a cam recess and with two click recesses 8l set at 120 to each other and to the cam recess. The three cams are angularly offset by 120. They are als-o spaced apart along the cam-shaft by distances corresponding to the spacing between the three screens in the magazine. The face of each cam is engaged by aV roller 82 at the outer end of a horizontal plunger 94 slidable withinv a cross-bar 83 connecting the two end The inner end'of the plunger is tapered and carries a transverse pin 84.- The projecting ends of this pin are engaged by the upper forked arm 85 of a bell-crank lever 88. The. three bell-crank levers 86 are supported upon a. common pivot pin 81. The upper end of each forked arm 85 is acted upon by one end of a coil compression spring 88 fitted on a guide rod 89 secured at one end to the side plate 10 on the base.

The lower arm 90 of each bell-crank extends approximately horizontally through a guide slot 9| in the side 14 and under the lower edge of the vertical locking plate 92 carried by a pair of bearers 55 on one of the lower screw shafts 58 in the magazine. In the bottom edge of this locking plate is a single slot 93 for receivingr the end of oneY of the arms 90 of the bell crank levers. When the arm is engaged within the slot 93, the screen carrier assembly is locked against shifting movement.

When the lever 11 is turned to bring the pointer opposite the number for the selected screen, the consequent rotation of the cam-shaft turns the appropriate cam 19 to an angular position at which the cam recess 80 is opposite the roller 82 of the adjacent plunger 94. This plunger is then free to move outwardly (i. e. towards the left in Figures 5, 6, and 7) under the action of the spring 8B bearing on the forked arm 85 of the bell crank lever. As the bell crank lever rocks in an anti-clockwise direction, the lower arm 90 of the bell crank rises into resilient contact with the lower edge of the locking plate 92. During the shifting movement ofr the screen carriers, the lower arm 90 rides along this edge until it comes into register'with the slot 93; and the end ofthe arm then enters the slot under the action ofthe compression spring, thereby acting as a latch to lock the s screen carrier assembly against further movement. This locking position is indicated in Figure 6. The purpose of the click recesses 3| is to enable the operator to feel the three positions for the cam-shaft when-he turns the hand lever Screen transfer mechanism In the back of the camera is a rigid vertical frame |00 of rectangular form (Figure 2). Ihis frame is supported along its lower side for limited backwards-and-forwards movement upon a pair of horizontal guide rods 0! mounted in end brackets |02, |03. The means for adjusting the movable frame will be described later. Across the upper portion of the frame is a horizontal rail |04 (Figure 1). When the selected screen in the magazine is in a position for transfer to the camera, the supporting rail 42 for that screen is in alignment with the rail |04 on the frame |00.

For transferring the screen from the magazine to the camera, the holder for that screen is run along the rail 42 on to the rail |04 through the slot 10 (Figure 3).

YFor effecting the transfer movement7 a peg 05 is fitted to each screen holder at one of its lower edges (Figure 4). The peg |05 is adapted to be engaged in the pick-up device'shcwn in Figures 8, 9 and 10. This device consists of a bolck |06 having a channelled portion |01 which is slidable on a horizontal guide rail |08 fitted along the lower portion of the frame |00. At the front end of the block is a slot |09 for receiving the peg |05 on the screen holder. The slot is normally shrouded at each side by a pair of plates ||0, lI'hese plates are fitted at each side of a slide ||2 which moves within a slot 3 inv the upper portion of the block |00. A coil compression spring |4 in the slot |3 acts resilient- 1y on one end of the slide to hold the shroud 6 plates ||0, over the slot |09. When the shroud plates are in this position, the peg |05 on the screen holder is retained within a slot against accidental removal.

The pick-up device is moved backwards and forwards along the horizontal rail |08 by an endless chain ||5 which is fixed by a screw 252 to the device and which runs over end sprockets ||5, I1 (Figure 1). This endless chain is driven from a third sprocket 8 by a short endless chain 9. The third sprocket is driven by a handle' |20 through a shaft I 2|.

When it is desired to transfer a screen from the magazine to the camera, the handle is turned in order to shift the pick-up device along the rail towards the left in Figures 1 and 2. Near its terminal position, the slotted end of the pick-up device passes through the slot 10 at the junction between the magazine and camera. During this movement the shroud plate i0 comes against a stop |22, Figure 10, which acts to hold back the two shroud plates during Screen-adjusting device As has already been explained, the rectangular frame |00 in the camera is capable of limited backWards-and-forwards movement. To ensure that the rail |04 on this frame is in alignment with the rail 42 on the screen carrier during the transfer operation, the handle |20 is normally declutched from the driving sprocket i8, and the clutch is only engaged when the two rails have been brought into alignment. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 1'7, the third sprocket ||8 is fixed cn a sleeve |24 which is slidable along the driving shaft |2|. On that end of the sleeve remote from the sprocket are dogs |25 for engaging recessess |26 in a collar |21 carried by the driving shaft. A pin |28 tting in another recess |29 keys the collar to the shaft. The collar is capable of limited axial movement on the shaft, and is backed by a coil compression spring |30. The spring thereby acts as a shock absorber when the sleeve is shifted to engage the dog teeth with the collar. The sleeve carries a bracket |3| which is located between collars 32, |33 and is secured to the frame 00 by a stud |34.

The dog clutch is engaged to permit rotation of the third sprocket H8 by the handle |20 only when the frame |00 is in its foremost position, i. e., to the left of Figure 17. To move the frame, there'is provided (see Figures 1 and 2) a hand lever |35 having a short arm |36 engaged between collars |31 on a horizontal push-and-pull rod |38 connected at |39 adjacent its forward end to the frame 00. The lever carries a pointer |40 which rides over a scale |4| marked to indicate the spacing of the screen from the sensitised plate in the camera.

Behind the rail |08 that carries the pick-up device is a horizontal locking bar |42 (Figures 14, 15 and 16) for engagingvthe back of the screen holder |2 along its lower edge so as to hold it 1 firmly' against lugs` |43'. This locking bar isl` f1ttied with upright pins |455 that arey guided within: obliquev slots |'45 infixed p-latesl |41. At-one' end of the locking plate isa block |48; As the screen holder movesinto position at the back of the camera, athrustj element |49 atlthe rear` end ofthe'. holder engages the block |48 and shifts the lockingA bar across' the' camera, i. e. in the direction of itslength. By'reason of the inter-connection between the pins |45'- andthe oblique slots |:46,.th'elocking bar |42 is also shifted backwardly so as to clamp the screen holder` against' the lugs. This? clamping position is shown in Figure 16.

The-screen holder'shown in Figures 18 and 19 is intended. forv supporting round screens. It is similar to the: previousl holder' except for: the ineans'l of.' detachably securing the screen at the back' face of' the holder. The rim of the` screen |50? is. engaged by pairs of upper and grooved rollers'` |61v and |62 respectively. The lower'roll-r ers |62. are xedl' totheholder on pivot studs |63 iitted with nutsv |64. The upper' rollers |'6'fl are mounted for limited radial movement so as to permit insertion and removalv ofr the screen. Each roller' l5 I. is carried on a pivot stud |54 iitted with acollar |55 andV secured by a nut |66 to asliding plate |61. The collar |55 slides in a radial slot |14 within the holderV frame.- The platev |61 also has a radially-directed slot |08I which is engaged by a guide |69 xed to the holder. On the plate |51 is a lug |10' carrying a rod |1| slidable in a fixed' guide |12". The rod is tted with a coil compression spring |13. The spring acts through the lug |10 resiliently to hold the roller |6| in a radially inward securing position.

I claim:

1.. A. photo-reproduction camera of. the type described, in combinationy with a magazine at one side of the camera for storing a plurality of screens arranged one behind. the other in vertical planes transverse to the camera axis, a carrier for supporting each screen in the magazine and incorporating a horizontal track parallel with the plane of the screen, on which track the screen is guided for transverse'v travelling movement between an inoperative position in the magazine and?- an operative position atthe back of the camera, a screen carrier at the back. of the camerafor there supporting a screenin a vertical operative position, said camera-back screen-carrier incorporating a horizontal track on which the screen is: guided for lateral travelling movement towards and away from the' magazine, the assembly of magazine screen-carriers being mounted for shifting movement as a unit in a direction normal to the planes of the screens, means for shifting the magazine screen-carriers as a unit. relatively to the camera-back. carrier in a horizontal direction normal to the Planes of the screens to bring the tracks of the magazine screen-carriers selectively' into alignment with the track at the camera backv to permit transverse travelling movement of the selected screen along the aligned tracks for transfer to and from the 8'; operative and inoperative positions, a plurality oflatch means associatedn respectively with the magazine screen-carriers and operable td; lock the magazine screen-carriers unit against shifting movement as aforesaid when the track of the magazine" screen-carrier associated with an operative latch means becomes aligned with the track at the camera back, and selector means'for renderingk operative any one of the latch means preselected at will, whereby the-magazine screencarriers are stopped and locked automatically when the track of the? magazine screen-carrier associated with the preselected latch means comes int'oy alignment as aforesaid during` shifting movement of the magazine screen-carriers` as' aforesaid.

2. A photo-reproduction camera according to claim 1, includinga latch plate formed with a notch, and wherein each said latch means comprises', in combination with said latch plate, a

latch. arm movable with the magazine screeny carriers and spring means urging said latch arm into engagement with said latch plate to ride thereon during shifting movement of the magazine-screen-carriers and to enter said notch when the track of the associated magazine screen-carrier is aligned with the track at the camera back, and wherein the said selector means comprise meansy for selectively holding all but a selected one. of the latch arms out of engagement with the latch plate against the action of the spring means, the said selected latch arm being the latch arm of the preselected latch means.

3. A photo-reproduction camera according to claim 2', wherein the selector means comprise cam means and abutment members movable thereby to hold the latch arms selectively as aforesaid.

4. A photo-reproduction camera according to claim 3, wherein the cam means are formed with interen'gaging parts which parts, by their interengagement, tend to hold the cam means against movement away from the positions in which they hold unselected latch arms as aforesaid, whereby additional effort is required to move the cam means away from such positions and thus setting of the cam. means to each of such positions is facilitated.

LESLIE LINZELL.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 522,921` Spooner July 10, 1894 544,493 Wigle Aug. .13, 1895 1,187,045 Bouzek June 13, 1916 1,209,239 Wende Dec. 19, 1916 1,402,791 Petherick Jan. 10, 1922 1,558,272 Pedersen Oct. 20, 1925 2,115,233 Powers Apr. 26, 1938 2,150,974 Huebner Mar. 21, 1939 2,402,107 Wekeman June 11, 1946 2,557,182 Forgett June 9, 1951 2,590,492 Bennett et al Mar. 25, 1952 

1. A PHOTO-REPRODUCTION CAMERA OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION WITH A MAGAZINE AT ONE SIDE OF THE CAMERA FOR STORING A PLURALITY OF SCREENS ARRANGED ONE BEHIND THE OTHER IN VERTICAL PLANES TRANSVERSE TO THE CAMERA AXIS, A CARRIER FOR SUPPORTING EACH SCREEN IN THE MAGAZINE AND INCORPORATING A HORIZONTAL TRACK PARALLEL WITH THE PLANE OF THE SCREEN, ON WHICH TRACK THE SCREEN IS GUIDED FOR TRANSVERSE TRAVELLING MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION IN THE MAGAZINE AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION AT THE BACK OF THE CAMERA, A SCREEN CARRIER AT THE BACK OF THE CAMERA FOR THERE SUPPORTING A SCREEN IN A VERTICAL OPERATIVE POSITION, SAID CAMERA-BACK SCREEN-CARRIER INCORPORATING A HORIZONTAL TRACK ON WHICH THE SCREEN IS GUIDED FOR LATERAL TRAVELLING MOVEMENT TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM THE MAGAZINE, THE ASSEMBLY OF MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIERS BEING MOUNTED FOR SHIFTING MOVEMENT AS A UNIT IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO THE PLANES OF THE SCREENS, MEANS FOR SHIFTING THE MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIERS AS A UNIT RELATIVELY TO THE CAMERA-BACK CARRIER IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION NORMAL TO THE PLANES OF THE SCREENS TO BRING THE TRACKS OF THE MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIERS SELECTIVELY INTO ALIGHMENT WITH THE TRACK AT THE CAMERA BACK TO PERMIT TRANSVERSE TRAVELLING MOVEMENT OF THE SELECTED SCREEN ALONG THE ALIGNED TRACKS FOR TRANSFER TO AND FROM THE OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS, A PLURALITY OF LATCH MEANS ASSOCIATED RESPECTIVELY WITH THE MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIERS AND OPERABLE TO LOCK THE MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIERS UNIT AGAINST SHIFTING MOVEMENT AS AFORESAID WHEN THE TRACK OF THE MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIER ASSOCIATED WITH AN OPERATIVE LATCH MEANS BECOMES ALIGNED WITH THE TRACK AT THE CAMERA BACK, AND SELECTOR MEANS FOR RENDERING OPERATIVE ANY ONE OF THE LATCH MEANS PRESELCTED AT WILL, WHEREBY THE MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIER CARRIERS ARE STOPPED AND LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE TRACK OF THE MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIER ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESELECTED LATCH MEANS COMES INTO ALIGHMENT AS AFORESAID DURING SHIFTING MOVEMENT OF THE MAGAZINE SCREEN-CARRIERS AS AFORESAID. 